Life is Made Up of Special Little Moments

This morning, after eating my little breakfast treat, I found momma in the kitchen humming a soft tune and chopping up some apples.  Apples are good so I sat down and watched her while she went, 'chop chop chop' with her knife.  "Mattie, you had your breakfast," said momma, "these are for the horses," and then she placed the chopped up apples in to the horses goody bucket.  She scooped me up in her arms, dressed me in my brown sweater, and then out the front door we went to go feed the horses.  I like it when we feed the horses because often times that means I get a little extra treat from their goody bucket. 

I trotted along side momma as she walked to the barn, the horse's goody bucket swinging to and fro.  Jumping over rocks and keeping pace with momma was fun, she always keeps her eye on me; and says, "Come on Mattilda...get those little legs pumpin!" I have no idea why she calls me Mattilda, she knows I'm a boy, but every time she says it she smiles, so I don't mind.  As we round the corner to go in to the barn momma puts down the goody bucket and lifts me up in her arms. "Don't want to startle the horses Mat," she says.

As we step in to the barn we see our friend John tending to the horses.  John waves a big 'hello' wave to us and beckons us closer to the stall where he is bent over feeding a bottle to a little foal named Dolly.  We watch as Dolly suckles on the bottle.  Momma's face is all soft and gentle as she looks in to Dolly's eyes.  I am quiet, and just twitch my nose at Dolly trying to take in her little horsey smell.  She's sweet as she eats.  When Dolly finishes her bottle, John settles her in to her clean stall and puts a little soft blanket on top of her.

John is Dolly's momma.  Well, not her actual momma, her real mom was named Tulip.  John is Dolly's surrogate momma since Dolly's real mother, Tulip, passed soon after giving birth to Dolly.  Momma says, "It was Tulip's time."  Momma told me she thinks Tulip knew that Dolly would need a momma, and so she went about sweet talking John.  John is a big strong farmer who likes to wear bib overalls, and he sings salty songs throughout the day.  But every day, without exception, even on Christmas, John takes care of the horses, brings them their food, walks and waters them, grooms them and gives them special treats.  Johns makes a good momma for Dolly; and since John's daughter is away at college, Dolly makes a good daughter for John.  Tulip was smart and chose well.

Momma gently puts me down on the dirt floor of the barn, motioning me to stay close to her.  She gives John a good morning hug and shows him the goody bucket we brought.  John smiles and together with momma, and without a word just the soft sounds of the horses tails swishing, they take small pieces of apples and feed the horses.  I slowly move with them as they make their way around the barn giving special treats to the horses; and every now and then John or momma leans down and gives me a little piece of apple too.

Everything has its season.  Tulip had hers, Dolly is having hers; and together me, Momma and John are having a little season, just sharing in the stillness of the morning.  Sometimes a quiet moment, with a sweet slow pace is the most glorious thing you can share with someone.

With lub and blessings,
MattieDog